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Course record and England call-up for Russell

It has been quite a month for Royal Ashdown Forest’s lady captain Katherine Russell. The 2012 Senior Women’s Open amateur stroke play champion has not only been called up by the England Senior Women’s team but has also broken the Old Course record for women on her home course.

New cap Russell will join the England team for the Women’s Home International championships at Llandudno, Wales. England finished runners-up in the 2012 championship and Russell and her teammates are looking to regain the title they have won seven times since 2003.

Russell said, ‘I have been sent a comprehensive team uniform, fit for a term at boarding school, with lots of logos and the England rose. My mother is all for sewing in Cash’s name tapes on so that I don’t lose them!’

In the Veteran Ladies Golf Association summer meeting, held at Royal Ashdown, Russell broke the previous women’s course record of 71 by one shot in a round that included a double bogey seven on the par five eighth hole. After a level par front nine, Russell, came home in a three under par score of 34 with birdies at 12, 13, 15 and 17.

In the 2013 Senior Women’s Open amateur stroke play championship, held at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, Russell finished fifth in her attempt to retain the trophy. On the last day, in atrocious conditions, she returned the second best score with an 82. ‘To give you some idea of how bad the conditions were,’ she said, ‘I lost a ball on the ninth and carded an eight but my playing partner took 11!’